Capito in favor of extending program that helps West Virginians pay for Internet service, but stresses the program needs accountability

Washington D.C. (WTRF) – A program that currently helps 23 million households pay for Internet service has stopped taking new applications as funding is about to run out this spring.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) can pay $30 to $75 per month to pay for Internet. The Biden Administration has requested 6 billion dollars from Congress to keep the program going.

West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito is in favor of extending the funding, especially since over 100,000 West Virginians use it.

But she also stresses that the program needs accountability.

“I will tell you this, anecdotal data in West Virginia, some people are receiving this benefit that don’t really need it. So I think we need to have accountability to make sure that the people that are receiving this benefit are the ones that actually cannot pay, and would not pay otherwise had they not had the extra money to be able to afford this.”

SEN. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, R-WV

Capito says lawmakers are looking at ways to get funds from the money collected via the Universal Service Fund which is managed by the FCC.